Application Note

Lactose In Milk Polarimetric Method

The characteristic carbohydrate of milk is lactose, commonly called “milk sugar”.

Lactose is present in the milk of most mammals in various amounts from approx. 1.9% (horse) to approx. 18.3% (rabbit). The average lactose content is 4.8% anhydrous lactose, while human milk contains 7% lactose.

The lactose content of dairy products depends on the processing. In concentrated and dried products it increases proportional to the dry substance, while it is lower in fermented products.